Notary Wedding Officiation In Montana: What's The Law?

If you're looking to get married in Montana, you might be wondering who can legally marry you. Well, it's not just judges, public officials, mayors, city judges, justices of the peace, and tribal judges who can solemnize a marriage in the state. A notary public can also officiate your wedding. In fact, Montana's laws regarding who can officiate a wedding are relatively flexible.

Who can officiate a wedding in Montana?

Montana has specific requirements for a wedding ceremony to be legally binding. The state does not require the minister to hold any specific personal religious beliefs or any at all. The beliefs and background of the minister are not taken into account by the state. The minister can also be from any state, not just Montana.

Montana Law does not require Marriage Officiants to register with any Government office. However, there is a law that specifies who can solemnize a marriage. This includes all ministers, including online ordained ministers of American Marriage Ministries. Local regulations in Montana stipulate that wedding officiants under the designation of "Minister" be ordained by a religious organization.

Who can solemnize a marriage in Montana?

• A judge of a court of record
• A public official whose powers include solemnization of marriages
• A mayor
• A city judge
• A justice of the peace
• A notary public authorized pursuant to 1-5-630
• A tribal judge
• Any mode of solemnization recognized by any religious denomination, Indian nation or tribe, or native group

• The minister must be physically present
• There must be at least two adult witnesses
• The couple must make the traditional "I do" declaration
• The minister must make the "I pronounce you..." declaration

• Become an ordained minister to perform marriage in Montana
• Prepare for the ceremony
• Officiate the wedding
• Record your wedding with AMM

What are the requirements to become a wedding officiant in Montana?

To become a wedding officiant in Montana, you must be an ordained minister. The Universal Life Church, Open Ministry, and American Marriage Ministries all offer free online ordination. Once ordained, you can legally officiate weddings anywhere in Montana.

There is no officiant registration required in Montana. However, it is a good idea to keep personal records of your official Ministry Credentials, as proof of your ordination may be requested by the couple, government officials, or the wedding venue.

Additionally, you must be over the age of 18 to officiate a wedding in Montana.

On the wedding day, your role as the officiant is to conduct the wedding ceremony and complete the marriage license with the couple and any required witnesses. It is your responsibility to ensure that the marriage license is valid and returned to the County Clerk within 30 days of the wedding.

What are the duties of a wedding officiant in Montana?

A wedding officiant in Montana has two main duties on the wedding day: conducting the wedding ceremony and completing the marriage license.

Conducting the Wedding Ceremony

This is a non-legal duty and involves officiating the ceremony. There are no laws, offices, or procedures requiring officiants to register with any government office. However, it is recommended to keep personal records of official Ministry Credentials as proof of ordination.

Completing the Marriage License

This is a legal duty and involves handling the marriage license on the wedding day. The process can be broken down into four steps:

• Ask the couple to present their marriage license before the wedding.
• Confirm that the marriage license is valid by checking the expiration date and ensuring it has not been more than six months since it was issued.
• Complete and sign the marriage license with the couple and any required witnesses. In Montana, no witnesses are required to sign the marriage license.
• Return the marriage license to the County Clerk as soon as possible. Specific instructions on how to return the license should be included with the license when it is issued to the couple.

What is the process of officiating a wedding in Montana?

To officiate a wedding in Montana, you must be an ordained minister. While ministers are not required to register in Montana, it is a good idea to keep personal records of your official Ministry Credentials as proof of your ordination.

• Check County Marriage Laws: Contact the marriage licensing office of the county where the wedding will take place and inquire about the required documents. Requirements may vary from county to county.
• Acquire a Montana Marriage License: Although it is the couple's responsibility to obtain the marriage license, as the minister, it is helpful to understand the rules governing marriage licenses in Montana and the specific county.
• Prepare for the Wedding Ceremony: Familiarize yourself with the format for a wedding ceremony, the names of the ceremony parts, and how to write a wedding ceremony. You can use resources such as the Montana Wedding Officiant Preparation Guide or the AMM Wedding Helper for guidance.
• Officiate the Wedding: On the wedding day, your legal responsibilities as the officiant are to conduct the wedding ceremony and complete the Montana marriage license with the couple and any required witnesses.
• Return the Marriage License: After the wedding, the signed marriage license must be returned to the County Clerk within 30 days. This is usually the responsibility of the couple, but some states require the minister to do so.

What are the legal requirements for a valid wedding ceremony in Montana?

Who can officiate a wedding in Montana?

Montana has a law that specifies who can solemnize a marriage. This includes:

• All ministers, including online ordained ministers of American Marriage Ministries.
• A judge of a court of record.
• A public official whose powers include the solemnization of marriages.
• A mayor, city judge, or justice of the peace.
• A notary public authorized under Montana Code Annotated § 1-5-630.
• A tribal judge.
• Any person in accordance with a mode of solemnization recognized by any religious denomination, Indian nation or tribe, or native group.

The couple must meet the following requirements:

• Both parties must be at least 18 years old. However, state law allows parties as young as 16 to marry with judicial approval.
• The couple must obtain a marriage license from the clerk of the district court and pay a $53 fee.
• The couple must present government-issued photo IDs when picking up the license.
• If either party has been married before, they must provide proof of divorce.
• The couple must complete and sign the marriage license with the officiant and any required witnesses.
• The couple must return the completed marriage license to the clerk of the district court within 30 days of the wedding.

The officiant must:

• Be at least 18 years old and duly authorized to solemnize marriages.
• Coordinate with the couple and contact the clerk who issued the marriage license to determine the required documentation.
• Ask the couple to present their marriage license before the wedding.
• Confirm that the marriage license is valid and has not expired (marriage licenses in Montana expire 6 months after being issued).
• Complete and sign the marriage license with the couple and any required witnesses.
• Return the completed marriage license to the clerk of the district court within 30 days of the wedding.
• Make a declaration that solemnizes the marriage, such as "I pronounce you..."

Yes, there must be at least two adult witnesses present at the ceremony.

Frequently asked questions